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Sustainable Business Practices
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What is Sustainability?

Sustainability is the capacity to endure. Sustainability is a holistic business approach for social, economic and environmental assessments in making business decisions for long term operations. In your day to day life it's the social, economic and environmental awareness of the impacts of your daily activities.

Why should you be Sustainable?

Sustainability improves your "bottom line". A disciplined corporate sustainability framework reflects a more complete evaluation of potential risks and opportunities and makes a difference in the upstream (supply side) and downstream (customer side) impacts. Recognized leaders in sustainability attract and retain employees and investors.

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What is Sustainability?
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A Sustainable Supply Chain requires a balance of the social, environmental and economic dimensions of your business and its purchases. Sustainable business leaders understand the value and need for this balance when creating transparency in their business practices. Investors continue to seek out companies whose methods require a level of transparency and disclosure, which allows an investor to make investment decisions based on a companies path of sustainability. Businesses that take a more holistic managerial approach show a level of diversity, innovation and discipline that is reflected in their return to shareholders.

In today's world, sustainability is no longer an option, but is required to remain competitive in the business and global economy. Recognized leaders in sustainability are proving that sustainability means profitability, which allows them to attract and retain employees and investors.

 

Management of your business processes and your suppliers' processes are crucial to reduce the use of our natural resources and our social, environmental and economic impact in our daily activities. There are various areas that can improve your bottom line and support your company's goals to become more sustainable, the topic links provide more information.

The EPA has information on the following topics:

  • Air
  • Climate Change
  • Emergencies
  • Green Living
  • Health and Safety
  • Land and Clean Up

Global and Local Sustainability Questions:

 
Fourth Assessment Report Climate Change 2007

by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
 
Learn the Issues

by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Although we can do a lot to clean up pollution after it's in the environment, preventing pollution in the first place is even better. Learn what you can do to protect the environment in your home, workplace, and community.
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Sustainability Check List

The checklist below offers both basic and comprehensive ways for your business to take steps towards reducing your environmental impact, while growing your balance sheet and ensuring your social responsibility.

 

Energy Efficiency

  • Install timers in hallways and common areas
  • Install motion sensors in offices and conference rooms
  • Install energy efficient lighting
  • Use Energy Star equipment i.e. printers, computers, monitors, HVAC systems (link to webpage)
  • Smart Grid Project
  • Financial Incentives by state
  • DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency) - DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Established in 1995 and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the N.C. Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
  • EnergyStar - A joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. EnergyStar is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products and buildings to reduce GHG emissions. The label is now on over 50 product categories, including major appliances, office equipment, lighting and home electronics. The EPA also extended the label to cover new homes and commercial/industrial buildings.
  • Energy Footprints- A program of the U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Footprints maps the flow of energy supply, demand and losses in the manufacturing industry.
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